Sospeso performs a new work by Rand Steiger, Résonanz, at the Boulez tribute concert on May 10, 2005, at Zankel Hall.

The composer and conductor Rand Steiger was born in New York City in 1957. His compositions have been performed widely at international festivals and by many ensembles including the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, American Composers Orchestra, Speculum Musicae, San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, and the New York New Music Ensemble. He has received a Rome Prize, a National Endowment for the Arts Composers Fellowship, and commissions from the Fromm Foundation, Ircam, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the San Diego Symphony, the National Flute Association, Meet the Composer (for Steven Schick and Maya Beiser) and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, where he served as Composer Fellow from 1987 through 1989. His compositions and performances are recorded on the New Albion, Centaur, CRI, Crystal, Koch, Mode, New World and Nonesuch labels.

Continuing his long-standing interest in computer music, he is currently in residence at Ircam in Paris working on a new piece for chamber ensemble, real-time audio signal processing, computer graphics and computer controlled light. He recently collaborated with Miller Puckette and Vibeke Sorensen on the creation of a system for networked, real-time computer graphics and music, supported by a three year grant from the Intel Research Council.

In 1981 Steiger co-founded the California EAR Unit, serving as artistic director through 1985 and since as principal guest conductor. Steiger has also conducted the Arditti Quartet, Aspen Chamber Ensemble, CalArts Twentieth-Century Players, Los Angeles Philharmonic New Music Group, New York New Music Ensemble and SONOR. He has conducted recordings of operas by Hilda Paredes and Anthony Davis, and other works including those by Carter, Reynolds, Stockhausen, Subotnick, and Xenakis. He has also conducted many west coast and world premiere performances including works of Andriessen, Babbitt, Carter, Ferneyhough, Harvey, Kernis, Martirano, Newton, Reynolds, Riley, Rudders, Saariaho, Scelsi, Subotnick, Takemitsu, and Tuur.

Steiger was a member of the Faculty of California Institute of the Arts from 1982 through 1987, and is currently a Professor in the Music Department at the University of California, San Diego, where he served as department chair from 1992 through 1996.